There is no need to introduce the name Cartier. It has long been a symbol of luxury and desirability and is one of the most well-known and renowned watch and jewelry companies of the past century. Without diminishing its historical significance, I would argue that Cartier has always been more of a "design" brand than a legitimate watchmaker, with aesthetically striking models like the Tank, the Crash, and the Santos all valued for their aesthetics. In actuality, collectors are drawn to the brand's exquisite and unusual designs, which set it apart from other watch companies.
 
For those who are unaware, the Cartier Santos is one of Cartier's earliest collections that is exclusively for men, having been created in 1904. In 1904, Brazilian pilot Alberto Santos-Dumont ordered a watch from his friend Louis Cartier to wear while operating his flying aircraft, hence the collection's name. Perhaps the first wristwatch ever made for men (and pilots) was the Cartier Santos. The Santos is unquestionably an important piece for Cartier and the history of watchmaking in general since it was designed from the ground up to be worn on the wrist rather than being a converted pocket watch like most of its era. Cartier has been creating numerous iterations of the Santos ever since.
 
The Santos 'Carrée', which means "square" in French, is an entirely different Santos from the ones we have here today. It was first released in the late 1970s, signaling Cartier's shift to a more reasonably priced stainless steel sports watch. Cartier's appeal to younger audiences was greatly aided by the Carrée's distinctive square-shaped casing, which made it somewhat of a symbol in the 1980s. Furthermore, the item we're presenting today is a Ref. 2961, which has a distinctive design with a slate grey "ghost" dial and is set in a steel and gold two-tone case.
 
Its two-toned case is the first indication of how sleek and sophisticated the construction is; it is a modest 29 x 41 mm and has a warm gold bezel, gold bracelet link screws, and a variety of brushed surfaces that are accentuated by beveled edges. A pair of crown guards flank the winding crown, which is embellished with Cartier's renowned sapphire blue cabochon. As demonstrated in our example, the vertically brushed slate gray dial for this specific reference tends to become ghosted with time, making the gold "Cartier" emblem at 12:00 and the "Swiss" marker at 6:00 all but invisible in some lighting situations. A pair of épée (sword) gold hands are displayed with a discrete date window with a white contrasting wheel at three o'clock.
 
The self-winding Cartier Cal. 077, which is based on the ETA Cal. 2671, powers this Ref. 2961 from within. At full wind, it can store up to 42 hours of power.
 
The Santos Carrée Ref. 2961 is unquestionably a hidden gem from the 1980s, a time shortly before Cartier mostly shifted to the mass manufacture of watches with quartz movements, amid the ongoing renaissance of neo-vintage Cartier pieces. It would easily fit into any serious collector's watch box and daily rotation, making it one of the most sought-after Santos references to own.